‘Shrill’ Review: Hulu’s Wonderful New Comedy Demands To Be Seen

hulu shrill comedy

**some spoilers ahead

Before watching “Shrill” I had high hopes for the new Hulu comedy series featuring Aidy
Bryant, about a woman struggling in a world that treats overweight and obese women
as less than. Unsurprisingly, the series exceeded my expectations. If you watch SNL,
which the extremely talented Bryant currently stars in, then you won’t be too surprised
either.

Bryant proves herself to be a versatile actor. While she’s great at performing the
comedic aspects of her role, she also shines in the series more dramatic moments. One
moment that stands out in my mind is when her asshole boss, Gabe, scolds her for not
showing up to “forced fun” on time. Forced fun is a new initiative to get his employees
into better physical shape.

While he’s talking at her, he tells her, “Lazy bodies, lazy
minds.” At this point I’m fuming and so is Annie. This is one of the many timed people
make pointed comments about her weight. She goes home to the best roommate ever, Fran,
and gives a speech about all the bullsh*t she’s had to endure her whole life.
Annie’s anger and sadness are keenly felt by the audience in this scene (and many
others) because there is nothing Aidy Bryant can’t do.

hulu shrill comedy
My face each time Ryan shows up on screen.

Someone who really got under my skin was Annie’s main love interest, Ryan. I’m
surprised this guy has survived life for as long as he has because he is utterly clueless
and self-centered. He NEVER considers Annie’s feelings, ever. Whenever he does
something nice it is immediately followed by something upsettingly shitty. At the
beginning of the season, he covers up his and Annie’s relationship by having her leave
his house through the back. He somehow forgets to mention that he has a child with
another woman. He also doesn’t remember to bring up that he’s been sleeping with
another woman. What a gem?

Despite all that bullshit, and so much more, Annie keeps taking him back. “Why?!?!?” I
kept internally screaming throughout the duration of the show. Her best-friend, Fran,
seems to be done too. She even goes as far as instituting a no-Ryan policy. In other words,
no more talking or speaking about Ryan! But does Annie listen? No, of course
not.

Does she deserve better? Absolutely. But the core of why she continues her
mind-boggling relationship is that this is what she believes she deserves. Anytime Ryan
or anyone else does something remotely nice for Annie she exclaims, “That’s so nice!”
But the truth is that most of the time the comment or action wasn’t nice, it was actually
just common decency. Like, when Ryan actually starts taking an interest in Annie’s
career for the first time, he finally compliments her. This is when she gives her usual
happily surprised response of “That’s nice.” It’s not that nice, and she should stop
settling for Ryan.

Annie should start settling for Lamar, Fran’s brother. He is a million
times better than Ryan in every way. But living in another country makes forming a
relationship impossible, which is truly a shame. He is so much better than Ryan that
Fran isn’t bothered when she finds out they hooked up.

hulu shrill comedy
Me thinking about Annie and Lamar.

Ryan is a waste of space, but I believe his true function in the show is to serve as
character development for Annie. If she figured out her whole life by the end of season
1, there wouldn’t be any need for season 2. And trust me, there must be a season 2.
Annie starts the series as a woman who tries to please others, so the world might finally
be a bit more kind to her.

This season was all about shedding that attitude, and for Annie to gain some much-needed confidence.
This new outlook culminates in her finally confronting her troll in the best scene of the entire
series. I don’t want to give too much away on what happens. But one thing is crystal clear, Annie
isn’t the same girl that we met at the beginning of the series.

**Click here check out the trailer.